LD#20: Bibliography of LD-related publications Revised: 18 Aug 95 This is a list of film/video/optical works that I have found useful. American Cinematographer Manual (seventh edition, 1993) Rod Ryan, editor ASC Press ISBN 0-935578-11-0 LoCCC: 79-93439 585 pages A handbook of useful info for the working cinematographer and camera operator. The section of most interest to the cinemaphile is the summary of contemporary normal and wide-screen processes. The 7th edition contains an interesting article on considerations involved in shooting 1.85:1 standard academy, super35 and anamorphic, as well as on 35mm to 70mm blowups. Several older processes are omitted, but can be found in the Second edition and other volumes listed here. In particular, the 3-strip Cinerama process is covered in Anton Wilson's book. American Cinematographer Video Manual (first edition, 1993) Frank Beacham, editor ASC Press ISBN 0-935578-10-2 LoCCC: 585 pages A handbook of useful info for both professional and amateur videographer. The sections of most interest to the cinemaphile are: - NTSC video technical summaries and limitations - How to do an "eyeball" setup of a monitor. - Long term storage of tapes. Anton Wilson's Cinema Workshop 1983 Anton Wilson ASC Press ISBN 0-935578-08-0 LoCCC: 83-71274 300 pages A collection of Wilson's columns from American Cinematographer magazine. Includes an informative article on film formats. There doesn't seem to be much changed from the Third Edition, and the Fourth, released in 1993. Both bear the same LoCCC and ISBNs. The Art of Digital Video 1989 John Watkinson Focal Press ISBN 0-240-51287-1 LoCCC: 89-25740 580 pages A companion to Watkinson's well-regarded "Art of Digital Audio", this work focuses on D-1 and D-2 formats, with supporting information on recording technologies, coding, processing, and some digital theory. The Focal Encyclopedia of Film and Television Techniques 1982 Raymond Spottiswode, general editor Focal Press ISBN 0 240 50654 5 1100 pages As Saddam would say, this is the mother of all film/video references. Over 1000 pages covering almost every topic in film and video, in as much technical detail as space permits. Four Aspects of the Film James L. Limbacher (c) 1968 Found in a used bookshop, this appears to be a "vanity press" item. It is a rambling history and commentary on various movie technologies, and contains some technical errors. Halliwell's Filmgoer's (and Video Viewer's) Companion (9th ed., 1988 - and last by the late author himself) Leslie Halliwell Scribners ISBN 0-684-19063-X 88-29818 780 pages An encylopaedic who's who and what's what of movies. Not much technical detail. Not to be confused with... Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed. 1989 - and last by the late author himself) Leslie Halliwell Harper & Row ISBN 0-06-016322-4 LoCCC: 89-45159 1170 pages An alphabetical listing of the majority of world-wide films which turn up in UK and US theatres and on video. Although Halliwell's opinions tend toward the curmudgeonly, the data on each work is more comprehensive than in more familiar guides like Maltin's. For example, major optical processes like Panavision are given. Later editions include material not by Halliwell. The current one, which I have not seen is... 8th ed. 1991 Edited by John Walker Harper Collins ISBN 0-06-270037-5 1234 pages HDTV - Advanced Television for the 1990s 1991 K. Blair Benson and Donald G. Fink McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07-020983-9 LoCCC: 90-81045 363 pages Since a US broadcast HDTV system had yet to be adopted, this work merely summarized what was known about the NHK-MUSE system, and various proposed US systems circa 1989/90. It covers all aspects of the challenges, from picture origination to display. The History of Movie Photography (out of print) 1981 Brian Coe Eastview Editions ISBN 0-89860-067-7 176 pages An interesting but not too technical overview of the history of motion picture cameras and film, with emphasis on color processes. IEC 857 - Pre-Recorded Optical Reflective Videodisk System M/NTSC IEC 1991-07 Amendment 1 to IEC 857 1986 and 1991 International Electrotechnical Commission No ISBN or LoCCC 78 pages (half in French, half in English) This is THE formal standard for NTSC LaserVision (IEC 856 is PAL). It covers physical and signal standards, including vertical interval codes, but (despite the 1991 amendment) not including digital sound or subcodes thereof. This document is VERY difficult to obtain in the US. The only vendors that I could locate are ANSI (who don't stock it, and don't accept credit card orders) and Global Engineering Documents (who do stock it, but charge about twice the normal rate). Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects 1986 Thomas Smith Del Ray / Ballantine ISBN 0-345-32263-0 LoCCC: 86-3298 278 pages A "coffee table" book covering the history of ILM from "Star Wars" up through "Enemy Mine" (1985). Covers all aspects of their work, such as matte paintings, miniatures, stop-motion, go-motion, puppetry, opticals, and some coverage of their photographic processes. The Laser Video Disc Companion: Updated Edition 1995 Laser Video Disc Companion Author: Douglas Pratt Publisher: Baseline Books ISBN 0-918432-90-1 8.5" x 11" 972 pages List Price - $39.95 Doug Pratt is the editor of "Laser Disc Newsletter", and this volume is compendium of LDN of over 8,000 laser disc titles released between 1984 and September 1994. The book includes introductory material on LD and numerous useful lists. For more information - write to Baseline, 838 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Voice:1-800-CHAPLIN Fax: 212-529-3331 email: lee@pkbaseline.com Optical Recording 1989 Alan B. Marchant Addison-Wesley ISBN 0-201-76247-1 LoCCC: 89-176 410 pages Quoting the preface, this is "a technical description of optical recording, with emphasis on the development of optical disk systems for digital data storage." Some data is included on LV/LD and CD read-only systems, but the focus is on write-once and rewriteable technologies like magneto-optic. Panaflex User's Manual 1989 David Samuelson Butterworth Publishers ISBN 0-240-80052-4 LoCCC: 89-17133 270 pages A catalog and quick reference guide to the entire line of Panavision equipment. Includes some info on formats and processes. (Motion-Picture) Projection and Theatre Presentation Manual 1969 Don Kloepfel, editor Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc. ISBN 0-940690-01-2 LoCCC: 78-95387 200 pages A collection of articles for motion picture exhibitors. Also includes reproductions of a number of SMTPE standards and recommended practices that would otherwise cost you a bundle. 35mm and 70mm projectable image areas are covered. Reel People Collection 1984 Eastman Kodak Co. ISBN 0-87985-346-8 LoCCC: 83-083241 125 pages A collection of articles for exhibitors, include tips on the use of SMPTE test films. A Technological History of Motion Picture and Television Raymond Fielding, editor Univ. of California Press ISBN 0-520-05064-9 LoCCC: 67-10464 250 pages A reproduction of articles from the SMPTE Journal, circa 1967. Contains nothing on widescreen processes. Television Engineering Handbook 1992, "Revised Edition" K. Blair Benson Revised by Jerry C. Whitaker McGraw Hill ISBN 0-07-004788-X (replaced 0-07-004779-0) LoCCC: 91-35079 1500 pages This is to video what the Focal Enc. is to both film&video. It is arranged in tutorial fashion and is heavily indexed. The Videodisc Book 1984 Rod Daynes & Beverly Butler Wiley & Sons ISBN 0-471-80342-1 LoCCC: 84-5120 500 pages This is a historical curiosity. It is a light tutorial and LV producer guide, and attempted to list all the LV and CED titles available in 1984. Videodisc Systems: Theory and Applications 1986 Jordan Isailovic Prentice-Hall ISBN 0-13-941865-2 LoCCC: 86-3185 450 pages This is the most comprehensive work available on video discs. It is also an excellent tutorial on optical recording, signal encoding and modulation and contains much detail on the NTSC and PAL systems. Widescreen Cinema 1992 John Belton Harvard University Press ISBN 0-674-95261-8 LoCCC: 92-5985 300 pages This is a formal history of widescreen, beginning with the how and why of the Edison/Dickson selection of 35mm stock and the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This book is weak on technical detail, and presumes that it is speaking to someone literate in film technology. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating tour of the three major epochs (1890s, 1920s, 1950-70s) of widescreen production, discussing the corporate, cultural and economic factors. The footnotes run to 70 pages, and include numerous corrections to Carr&Hayes. Wide Screen Movies 1988 Carr & Hayes McFarland ISBN 0-89950-242-3 LoCCC: 86-43093 500 pages The most comprehensive summary available on large-gauge and wide aspect ratio motion pictures. Includes some detail on each process, and a complete listing of all titles in each process (up thru 1988). It is reported to contain many errors, and more than a few omissions. The high-end videophile magazine "The Perfect Vision", has been publishing numerous articles on laserdisc, cinema technology and the limits of NTSC. Technical depth and accuracy improved dramatically in 1991. Anyone interested in peak home theatre capability needs to read this publication. The March 1990 issue of "American Cinematographer" magazine contains articles on ShowScan, IMAX/OMNIMAX, Iwerks 360 and other stuff that might be of interest. For example, on pages 8 & 9 there is an ad for "Super 1.85" from Clairmont Camera (Super35 with a 1.85 matte). There are also any number of books for filmmakers, such as Malkiewicz's "Cinematography" and Pincus and Ascher's "Filmmaker's Handbook". These tend to focus on independent 16mm production and rarely even mention "aspect ratio", even though that is an issue for 16mm, as there is normal vs Super-16, and anamorphic lenses are available for 16mm. Regards, PO Box 248 Bob Niland Enterprise mailto:name@isp-name.domain Kansas which, due to spam, is: 67441-0248 USA rjn AT access DASH one DOT com Unless otherwise specifically stated expressing personal opinions and NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet Service Provider.